By David Fleet
Editor
Brandon Twp.-On Monday night the township board of trustees voted 6-0 to hire Faye Bindig as the permanent full-time Edna Burton Senior Center Coordinator. Treasurer Terri Darrnall was absent from the meeting and did not vote. Bindig replaces Annette Beach who retired after 30 years in October 2018.
Bindig, 60, a 1976 Brandon High School graduate and township resident started volunteering at the senior center in 1992.
“My motivation to start at the senior center were my parents,” she said. “I saw how my mom, when she came down to the center had a lot more socialization. At the time it was difficult for her to get out of the house— my dad was in a wheelchair and really did not want to go anywhere—but he came to the center with her.”
Bindig has worked full time at Bueche’s Food World for many years while volunteering at the senior center. She was hired part time at the senior center in 2014.

Bindig emphasizes the senior center gives people a reason to get out of bed in the morning.
“Everybody knows everybody and everybody cares. It feels like home. Everybody is family—an extended family and watches out for each other. It’s not just a place to go—it’s a place for family.”
The biggest day for the 75 area seniors is Wednesday—that’s Bingo day. The Older Person Center delivers the lunches each week day.
“Anyone can come to lunch, regardless of age, and from any community, we do not charge for out of the area visitors to the center,” she said. “We also supply transportation to anywhere but Ann Arbor. We take people to the doctor, grocery shopping—suggested donation is $2 each way.”
Many of the seniors don’t drive so our drivers pickup about 25 seniors during the weekdays for lunch..
“Many of the seniors it’s the only time for them to get out of the house,” she said.
The EBSC has grown over the years with more activities.
Seniors from Atlas Township, Groveland, Goodrich, Waterford, Oxford, Lake Orion and Holly visit the senior center.
“It’s a sense of community here in Ortonville,” she said. “But I think the community needs a senior living facility. It would enhance the senior center and the community. There’s just no housing for seniors to stay here.”